Sanborn stops in Naperville during a current world tour in support of “Only Everything,” his 24th album. Sanborn’s performance will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 31, in North Central’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Tickets are $40 and $50; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit www.northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

“Among the great saxophonists of the past four decades, David Sanborn has earned an identity all his own” says Rolling Stone. “He's jazz, he's funk, he's soul, he's pop, he's blues, he's rock. Most remarkably, he excels in each of these genres with a voice that is both forceful and tender, sensuous and subtle.”

With “Only Everything,” the second of Sanborn's homage to the aesthetic of Ray Charles, he revisits his roots with fresh perspective. The New York Times called Sanborn’s 2008 “Here and Gone”—the first of his tribute series—“a disarming delight.” The album is produced by Phil Ramone and features drummer Steve Gadd, organist Joey DeFrancesco and a vocal cameo by James Taylor, among other collaborations

Along with a handful of other alto players in the history of the instrument—Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges, Earl Bostic, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Desmond—Sanborn’s sound is instantly recognizable. His musical voice is deeply human, a cry of both pain and celebration.

Sanborn grew up in St. Louis and started playing saxophone professionally in his teens with such Chicago blues greats as Albert King and Little Milton. He relocated to Los Angeles, where he joined the Butterfield Blues Band and performed at Woodstock with the group. In the 1970s he performed with Stevie Wonder and the Rolling Stones and played the famous sax solo on David Bowie’s “Young Americans.”

His solo career includes the hit albums “Hideaway” and “Backstreet” and the Grammy Award-winning recordings “Voyeur” and “Double Vision.” In the 1980s, he hosted the musical television show “Night Music,” which was produced by “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels. Visit www.davidsanborn.com to learn more about the artist.

Sanborn’s performance at Wentz Concert Hall is the first concert in North Central College’s 2010-2011 Fine & Performing Arts Season. Tickets are on sale now for season and series subscribers; call 630-637-SHOW (7469) to subscribe. Tickets for individual shows go on sale June 14.

This performance is one of many ongoing programs at North Central College to enrich and broaden the cultural and academic outlook for the College and community. North Central offers a variety of venues accommodating a rich range of local and world-class events, performances and space needs for the public. For a comprehensive schedule of musical performances, theatrical and dance productions, art exhibits and lectures, visit www.northcentralcollege.edu/show or call 630-637-SHOW (7469).